"...Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force ... To it alone God's sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book." Furthermore, it claims that "God by his holy spirit" has directly "revealed" things to its "early Bible students ... far in advance." Watchtower. July 1, 1973 pg 402 The Society published a six-volume work entitled Scripture Studies which it described as "the Bible in an arranged form." It amounted to a running commentary on the Bible. The Society claims that if someone were to "ignore" the Scripture Studies "and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years...within two years he goes into darkness." The Society further claims that if a student "had merely read Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." Watchtower, 1910, p.298 "We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave' organization." The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981. "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587. "The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: "Light is sown for the righteous." (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother." The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 274. Channel to understanding the Bible... All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. The Watchtower; 10/1/1994; p. 8.

I am familiar with the Witnesses beliefs and the answer is no the Witnesses do not believe one can only understand the bible with the aid of the Watchtower.The witnesses do regular bible reading with no such magazines.The Watchtower is used to do broader research on bible subjects.

No ViceGrip, Jehovah’s Witnesses use the Bible as their standard. They may use other publications as helps. Many other religions also have other publications that they use. Perhaps you might ask about those too? The Bible Students were encouraged to learn to do research, to “prove all things,” to express thoughts in their own words. (1 Thess. 5:21, KJ) Back early in the 1890’s an early leader of Jehovah’s Witnesses; Brother Russell encouraged a full and free discussion of the study material. He also cautioned: “Never forget that the Bible is our Standard and that however God-given our helps may be they are ‘helps’ and not substitutes for the Bible.” Notice how many times I get marked down on this reply. Why? because it is simple and true. Why don't these religious bigots and haters want you to know the truth of the Bible and what the Bible really says?

i see jw's lying here and jehovah hates a liar. every mag and book the wt publishes. basically says 'ONLY THROUGH THE FDS CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE OR GAIN SALAVATION INTO PARADISE. IT'S said 100's of times every week at the kingdum hell and every book. i'm glad perryman bgrought up 1thes5;21 prove all thing true. now i ask you to prove the "relevations grand climax " is truth your studing it right now. i tested this book over 15 years ago. by finding and reading wt reprints from 1900-1930 studies in the scriptures, the finished mystery, millions now living will never die. etc. i spent years finding old wt's and reading them. to PROVE ALL THING TRUE. and i found no other jw ever read any of this junk. and the wt does it's best to hid all of it today . but this book lies, and LIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE Wt. till the smell of crap and false prophecy. STINKS ALL THE UP TO HEAVEN. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT. do a few years research then come back and tell me what you find from 1914-1919 when the wt says jesus inspected all releigions including the wt. and choose them as in charge of all of CHRISTS BELONGING ON EARTH. REMEMBER JESUS CHOOSE THE WT IN 1878. AS THEY WERE TEACHING TILL 1943. YOU HAVE A LOT TO LEARN 1 THES 5;21

Yes it is true. They believe that an individual cannot know the bible by them self, and must rely on the Watchtower for clarification. They claim that the Governing Body(GB), located in NY, is anointed. Whatever the GB says, is accepted as truth, otherwise they would be disfellowshiped. The GB could tell the congregation: "Jehovah wants us to dig to the center of the earth to find Him." and because of their extreme faith in the organization, most of them would dig until they reached a core temperature sufficient to cause them to expire, or they'd leave due to the absurdity of the claim, and still be disfellowshiped for not believing.

No.

No. The Israelites became Witnesses of Jehovah using the Bible alone. Gentiles became Witnesses of Jehovah using only about 39 books of the Bible.

the watch tower, as i understand it, is kinda supposed to bridge the gap between the old and new testemants using current events as a medium. i actually sceduled myself for study sessions with 1 for 2 hours every other week, just to argue. then he brought in his pasture. and after heated debate(in religion there is no winner or loser i guess) they stopped comming. LOL

1) Here a presentation of various points of view, by the people who rely on the Bible alone: "A. Defining Sola Scriptura: "Bible Only" 1. Latin: "Sola" = Alone 2. Latin: "Scriptura" = Scriptures 3. Latin: "Sola Scriptura" = Bible Only 4. Greek: "Anti" = (Anti-Sola Scriptura) "against, opposite or opposed to using the Bible only 5. Greek: "Pseudo" = (Pseudo-Sola Scriptura) "Apparently similar, counterfeit, pretended, spurious, false" They claim to use the Bible only, but in fact do not! B. Sola Scriptura means: 1. The Bible alone without creeds. (ie Apostles creed, Nicene creed.) 2. The Bible alone without councils. (ie Ecumenical Councils.) 3. The Bible alone without church canons. (ie Canons of Dort.) 4. The Bible alone without statements of faith. (most churches create one.) 5. The Bible alone without oral tradition. (unless it is found in the Bible.) 6. The Bible alone without church tradition. (unless it is found in the Bible.) 7. The Bible alone without a "church interpreter". (Catholic, Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses all say only the church can correctly interpret the Bible, not the individual.) 8. The Bible alone without individual illumination of the Holy Spirit. (Evangelicals, Baptists, Charismatics and Calvinists believe they are personally guided by the Holy Spirit to correctly interpret the Bible.) 9. The Bible alone without modern day prophecy and inspiration. (Pentecostal, Charismatic and most of the 19th century cults, (Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists) all claimed to have living prophets.) C. Pseudo-Sola Scriptura churches 1. Catholics, Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses claim an infallible organization. 2. Pentecostals and Charismatics claim infallible pastors. (inspiration) 3. Evangelicals, Baptists and Calvinists claim infallible individuals. (Illumination of the Holy Spirit) 4. Sola Scriptura Scriptura: Fallible Christians claim an infallible book!" Source and further information: http://www.bible.ca/sola-scriptura-start.htm In this sense, the Jehovah's Witnesses have a similar position as the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Notice also that they use their own translation of the Bible, which is seen as controversial by many mainstream Christians. 2) Some examples of this attitude (from a critical page; the quotations, however, are from "The Watchtower") : " Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book. The Watchtower; July 1, 1973, pp. 402. "We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave' organization." (The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981.) "...people cannot see the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself...if he then lays them [Scripture Studies] aside and ignores them and goes to the bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures." The Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1910, p. 298. "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587. "The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: "Light is sown for the righteous." (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother." The Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 274. Channel to understanding the Bible... All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave. The Watchtower; 10/1/1994; p. 8." Source and further information: http://www.carm.org/jw/jwquotes.htm

I'm sure circulation is up as a result of that bit